Welcome to the Consumerist Archives

Thanks for visiting Consumerist.com. As of October 2017, Consumerist is no longer producing new content, but feel free to browse through our archives. Here you can find 12 years worth of articles on everything from how to avoid dodgy scams to writing an effective complaint letter. Check out some of our greatest hits below, explore the categories listed on the left-hand side of the page, or head to CR.org for ratings, reviews, and consumer news.

In case you missed those few seconds when Starbucks’ new steel gift cards went on sale last week before selling out in the blink of an eye, you’re in luck! Well, if you define luck as forking over around $5,000 on eBay for a gift card that retailed for $450, that is. Then you’re all set!

The cachet of owning something probably no one else in your local Starbucks line will have proved too tempting for those who weren’t able to buy one of the 5,000 in existence that sold online late last week.

If you’re scoffing at the idea of buying something so exclusive, you’re probably not Starbucks’ target audience for this card. As Jason Goldberger, executive vice president of Gilt.com (which sold the cards last week) told USA Today, it’s all about the haves and the have-nots: “When you’re waiting in line at Starbucks, the next person in line won’t have it.”

It’s only a matter of time, we’re sure, before we start hearing stories of impostor cards popping up local Starbucks stores around the nation, so keep your eyes peeled for fakes. And if someone offers you for one with a deal that seems too good to be true, in this case that’s almost definitely true.

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization,Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.